Author: Carolina Fish and Hunt

North Carolina’s saltwater anglers will have a new slot limit for striped bass beginning June 1, 2023. The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries said they are taking this action to comply with the Atlantic State’s Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board’s recommendations.

Starting on June 1, anglers will have a creel limit of one striped bass that is between 28 and 31 inches total length, per person, per day.

This new regulation replaces the 28- to 35-inch slot length.

Another requirement still in place is for anglers to use non-offset circle hooks when using live or natural bait. It will also remain illegal to gaff striped bass.

The ASMFC’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board recently called for emergency action calling for the 31-inch maximum size limit for striped bass fisheries from Maine to North Carolina. Their concern comes about because of the magnitude of the 2022 recreational harvest across the Atlantic coast, which was almost double the harvest of 2021.

For more information about the ASMFC’s striped bass plan, click here.

While doing a routine inspection and safety patrol on South Carolina’s Black River recently, SCDNR Region 4 Officers Dozier and Hering inspected a boat returning from an offshore fishing trip. They found the five anglers on board had way more fish than the law allows.

The Game Wardens cited the offenders for having exceeded the limit of Vermilion snapper by 79 fish. They also had two undersized red porgy, and were cited for two boating violations.

The SCDNR seized the fish and donated them.

On June 3, 2023, the NCWRC will open 36 bodies of Delayed Harvest Trout Waters, including 34 streams and two lakes. The Delayed Harvest season will run June 3 through Sept. 30.

On that first day, it’s all about the kids from 6 a.m. to 11:59, when these waters will only be open to youth under 18-years-old. At noon, it opens to all licensed anglers.

During the Delayed Harvest season, anglers can keep up to seven trout per day with no minimum size limits. They can also use any type of bait and any type of fishing gear. Fly-fishing gear not required!

To find the list of Delayed Harvest Trout Waters, along with regulations and trout maps, visit ncwildlife.org/trout.

According to the SCDNR and the Kershaw County (SC) Coroner’s office, a 15-year-old from Camden was killed as the result of a boat crash on the Wateree River at approximately 10:16 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2023.

The crash involved two boats. The teenager was in one boat, which was clipped by another boat near the Pine Tree Creek area of the river. The passengers on the two boats were all friends, and they were all fishing during the outing. Both boats were moving when the crash occurred.

No foul play is suspected and officials said it does not appear any horseplay was involved. The coroner’s office and SCDNR have not released the victims name because he was a minor.

Mark O’Neal of Rockingham, NC was found deceased on May 2, 2023 after rescuers located him and his capsized boat on the Pee Dee River below Blewett Falls Dam.

The 61-year-old angler went fishing on April 29. When he did not return home, a search and rescue operation began. Rescuers located his dog alive on May 1, but found O’Neal’s lifeless body the next day. They also found his boat.

When SCDNR received a call recently about two pier anglers keeping undersized fish, as well as an illegal number of fish, Region 4 Officers Thompkins and Williams headed to the pier and began investigating. This led to two alleged poachers being fined for five undersized fish, and for having 67 fish over the legal limit.

Williams counted a total of 41 Spanish mackerel and 18 bluefish from one suspect. Thompkins found another suspect with 23 Spanish mackerel and 21 bluefish.

Both suspected poachers now have pending charges and will be dealt with by the courts.

When cases like this occur, people always ask “what happens to the fish?” It is donated to local food banks and shelters, so it doesn’t go to waste.

Don’t forget, if you see illegal activities in the outdoor world, you can report those violations anonymously to Operation Game Thief in South Carolina by calling 800-922-5431, and in North Carolina by calling 800-662-7137.